Going Gonzo

A tough loss last night but I was certainly impressed with the near comeback. Let’s hope we don’t need one tonight in this incredible matchup between two certain All-Stars and more than likely, the NL’s starter for the All-Star Game.

As you can imagine, there are a ton of little requests that we get for the players all year long that we try to fulfill, whether they’re from media, community affairs, sponsorship, etc. A few weeks ago, Disney came to us for the taping of High School Musical 2, the sequel to an apparently successful first move, High School Musical. They wanted Luis Gonzalez, Nomar Garciaparra and Takashi Saito to appear in the video and yesterday was the day that each guy taped his brief segment.

Knowing that his daughters were huge fans of the first movie, Luis Gonzalez hammed it up for the camera big time, doing a little dance so that they’d definitely use the footage they got of him. Afterward, we were joking around that we were going to put it on DodgerVision or YouTube and he said, "From what I hear, there’s a YouTube video that’s out there of me and the muppet, Gonzo, already."

Unlike LONEY, MATT KEMP is a right handed fielder. I was wondering if he ever played another position. Is there a chance that he can play 2nd base for example. It would give him more opportunities to play. He will some day be a starter with the type of power he possesses. I only hope it will be for the Dodgers. Tough assignment for PENNY against PEAVY tonight, but their’s nobody better that you would want in there. LET’S GO DODGERS.

momo- thats what i keep saying about one and half years of Tex…its a total waste. I wouldn’t MIND Buerhle but Williams isn’t a fool and I’m sure he has a list of who he wants from our org. and i bet you it isn’t a package centered around kuo. They only reason they will deal Buerhle is to get top prospects.And if that’s the case then no, its stupid idea. Someone tell ned that.

Hong-Chih Kuo was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas a few minutes ago, and D.J. Houlton was recalled from Vegas. That clearly means Houlton will start on Wednesday night against the Braves. It will be his first major-league appearance since 2005 and his first major-league appearance since Paul DePodesta, the former Dodgers GM who selected Houlton in the 2004 Rule 5 draft from Houston. D.J. apparently, judging by his minor-league numbers, is a much better pitcher now than he was then. We’ll find out soon enough. He has been on the 40-man roster since the day the Dodgers picked him up, essentially gathering dust, but that also made him the easy guy to call up when the club had exhaused all other options for the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation.

Calling up DJ Houlton is a FASCINATING move. I really thought that Kuo would get one more chance, but he was not doing well, and we can’t have that in this race (it was a good comeback, but just too big of a hole against too good of a team).

It seems to me that what is going on here is Ned is trying to plug the hole internally–if Houlton can do it, a Buerhle deal is unlikely, and probably only at a good price. If not, we may have to do it–but there are about 7 or 8 young guys that should not be touched–if they make a deal that includes Delwyn Young or Wilson Valdez, I could deal with it, but the obvious guys should stay right where they are in Dodger Blue (Loney, Kemp, Martin, Abreu, Ethier, Bills, Broxton–probably add LaRoche and Kershal–I don’t know about Kuo, but even though he’s been rocky, I like him).

Bills needs to answer the call here too, but I have much greater faith (he was an effective starter last year, and has been great out of the bullpen–but now that his pitch count is going to be 90 or so for his next start, he needs to just show that he’s back to that form).

Good move–Kuo needs to get back to developing his wind-up–he is an ineffective reliever, and pitching the whole game from a stretch is too much like a reliever–I think he loses power without the wind-up. If Houlton (who was OK in 2005) is better than he was, it might just work.

By the way–Josh mentions that Loney has an 8-game hitting streak. In fact, the only time this year that Loney has not had a hit in a game where he got an at-bat (he was a defensive replacement a couple of times), is when he went 0-for-1 the day that Right Field Wall tried to kill him.

In fact, since he got recalled last July, there are only 2 games that he has started where he has not gotten on base (including Game 3 of the NLDS). All this is by way of saying (to the tune of “Oscar Meyer):

Come on hitters, use a few pitches – don’t just swing at the first strike and go out quite so often. Gotta tire Peavy out a little or you look at hom pitcing 8 innings, 0 or 1 runs given up, and that’s gonna be tough to get a win with ;-)

I knew Saenz would strike out in that situation like he always does lately. The worst man to select to pinch hit – at least Abreu has a much higher batting %, or Betemit would be more likely to walk. When is Grady going to wake up to the fact that Saenz STINKS.

Your post reminded me of an idea I had that involved the muppets. Instead of the dodger d.j. always playing free ride when the opposing pitcher gives up a walk, maybe you could buy the rights to a snippet of Fozi the bear muppet when he famously says after a bombed joke, wakka-wakka-wakka!

I think it would be hilarious but im a little weird so we will see if anyone else would think this would be entertaining.

tomko is a worthless POS. if you want to see my point about Grady being stupid then look no further then this game. Also Kemp got into the game but not an AB. Instead it went to Betemiss who shockingly struck out. I could care less what you guys say but we would be a better team sans Grady Little.

If the Dodgers want to get back to the World Series they will not do it under the guidence of Ned Colleti and Graddy Little. If Ned thinks players like Juan Pierre, Tomko and Henderson are going to take them to the World Series, he his blind.

Tomko su cks, but that’s not Grady’s fault…he was the only fresh arm in the ‘pen. Tomko needs to be DFA’ed.

Are we really going to call for Ned and Grady’s jobs every time the Dodgers lose a game? Remember, great teams lose 62 games. This one hurts a lot, and I know it’s against San Diego, but the guys on the field didn’t execute with RISP and the umps sure didn’t help (Martin’s would-be steal of 3b). Penny pitched a **** of a game, and the bullpen was scoreless for 4 innings. The hitters just didn’t execute against a great pitching staff; the D’s bullpen was shortchanged by Kuo last night. Since the Dodgers couldn’t finish it in the 6th, 8th, and 11th, you almost knew the Pads would win it. Grady managed the pitchers well, but he ran out of options. You would all be saying the same thing about him if Seanez had lost it, and Rudy was his only other option.

That said – come on Ned; get rid of Tomko HOWEVER you can. Let’s get Meloan or 3 hackey sacks to replace him on the roster.

We lost by inches but I think the Padre batters were more patient at the plate. They did not swing at balls out of the strike zone especially in the later innings. The Dodgers swing—swing—swing. But you can’t give up. After 81 games 45-36—last year 41-40 and 38-43 in 2005. (I kept the records)We have a lot of young players and we may have been robbed in the 11th inning. TOMORROW’S GAME IS A MUST. THIS IS NO TIME TO GIVE IN LET’S GO DODGERS.

This is unacceptable to have lost to the Padres again. As a Dodgers fan it is just horrible. This team has no pride in their home town. You do not lose to your biggest competitor in your division all the time. I am beginning to feel like a Boston Red Sox fan always losing to the Yankees. They corrected that problem and fired Graddy Little.

The fact is we continue to blow major opportunities to score. The fact Tomko blew the game is irrelevant, we had numerous chances to win the game before Tomko took the mound and blew everyone of them. Everybody knew with Tomko in the game San Diego would score, but there’s nothing you could do avoid that. Hendy was unavailable and yes you could of gone with Seanez, but eventually it was going to end up in Tomko’s hands, because we couldn’t freaking score a run. Ethier makes the catch and it’s an easy double play. It’s a game of inches and we lost. The game was officially lost in the 12th, but really the game was lost much earlier. Laughable trying to blame Grady…again

exactly Momo. Kemp gave us a better chance to score there. Im not saying he would have but the odds of him getting that hit were better then Olmedo and that would have given us the bset chance to do something.

Once again what is the managers job?…say it with me “to give the team the best chance to win” there we go! everybody again!!! “to give the team the best chance to win”

you guys are gooood. Once more…and louder!!! “TO GIVE THE TEAM THE BEST CHANCE TO WIN”

No, because you know what I know Max, Kemp struck out three times and looked like a **** fool by Chris Young.

With a righty pitching Betemit probably should have been up in that position and he struck out. Lets say Kemp is up in the position (where most RH PH’s would not be) and he strikes out, most people would complain because a righty should not have been up in that position. Now against a righty Grady went with Saenz and it didn’t work, but at least Saenz has hit a PH HR off a righty. And Saenz had moderate success off of Peavy, so it made sense. Kemp has never faced Peavy in his life. Peavy would’ve made him look like a fool, just like Young did.

I am reading the posts backwards. Seanez was warming up earlier; he should have been brought in unless something was wrong with him. Billingsley could have been used after that and Houlten could pitch tomorrow

seanz has been very disappointing in big spots this year (save for a few instances), especially lately. i would have elected to go with betemit based on that and facing a right hander. i really think seanz is through, how long grittle will take to realize this i don’t know. i wish he would stop relying on him as if he was miraculous. his ABs have been horrid of late (i realize betemit isn’t really any better).

Tomko will not be released. That’s 4 millon of salary there. He’ll be traded if anything and I doubt even that.

Mike, Bills is starting tomorrow and yes he could have gone to Seanez, but we could not score, it eventually ends up with Tomko anyway. And it’s no given Seanez doesn’t give up the runs. The game was lost before Tomko took the mound.

“The fact Tomko blew the game is irrelevant, we had numerous chances to win the game before Tomko took the mound and blew everyone of them.”
“Everybody knew with Tomko in the game San Diego would score, but there’s nothing you could do avoid that.”

That’s a contradiction.

Tomko blowing the game is just as relevant as the offense blowing opportunities to score. It’s a team game, and Tomko didn’t carry his weight (again!!!). Yes the offense should have scored more (and the ump shouldn’t have blown a call), but the fact that Tomko is even an option is of major relevance.

This is so simple, you’re obviously arguing for the sake of arguing. Grady goes with Saenz because he’s the only person sitting on the bench with any success against Peavy. Later on Grady went with Betemit because he was a lefty against the righty. Simple…you can be such a pest…but you already know that. Also, it saves Kemp because he knew he may need him later in the game. He uses him in that moment Kemp is done for the game.

Hey, I’m with all of you I don’t like Tomko, but Ethier makes the catch, we’re probably still playing, or until we blow another opportunity and Tomko gives it up in the 13th. We could have won the game at least 4 times, you blow those chances, you’re giving the game away and they did.

Still think you are wrong alex.Tomko is almost automatic,Seanez could certainly have pitched an inning and very likely not given up a run. We might have won in the bottom of the 12th 2-1 but if not I would have brought in Billingsley over Tomko,tried to win this game and worry about tomorrow then.

Well we’ll just never know how bad Peavy MAY have struck Kemp out. My guess is a breaking ball in the dirt. But, it’s better because you can at least think Kemp would have been the hero. I’ll think the same thing, it’ll help me get over this loss.

My only hope is that either Grady was showing Colletti that Tomko needs to be DFA which should be obvious anyway we can’t waste a roster spot on a pitcher suitable only for mop-up work or Colletti had ordered Grady to work Tomko into games in the hope he would have a good outing and a team in great need of pitching would take him off our hands.

That’s why it was probably been best to keep Chad back in the bullpen but is not. Chad is going to start today and just because Houlton is getting call up doesn’t mean Chad should lost his schedule starting moved.

I also love how while Max and I are talking, some others are talking about pitching Bills and wasting his start for tomorrow. I’m calling it a night, I’m not going to waste time on that. But, Max I’m always happy to waste time with you. Always fun…looking forward to disagreeing with you again soon.

Oh beautiful, Hendrickson back to the rotation. UGH! Houlton to the pen…from Tony Jackson’s blog.

“Oh, by the way, Houlton isn’t going to start. He’ll work out of the pen. Hendrickson is going to take Kuo’s spot, but it only comes up one more time between now and the All-Star break. After that, it could be Mark Buehrle or some other person currently wearing the uniform of another club.”

if i recall, the last time the bases were loaded, and we needed runs badly, tonights potential savior, the player that “gives us the best chance to win”, aka MATT KEMP was up to bat, and he grounded to 3rd for the double play….and this was against Tampa Bay of all teams….what makes anyone think he would have done better against Peavy, one of the top pitchers in the big leagues??

It’s not really wasting a start for Billingsley. He’s still a starter, you would just push his start back a few days. This was a big game. You have to try to win any way you can. Even Clemens pitched out of the bullpen the other day (to no avail).

Anyway, looking at the Vegas roster, Eric Hull looks like the only one worthy of promotion. So my wish for tomorrow, Tomko DFA’d, Hull promoted.

casinod…your basing your point on one instance? wow. In a sport where you are considered success full in you fail 7 times out of 10 a guy getting based on one instance is hilarious. Betemit has been horrible all year and Sanez hasn’t been able to hit a righty since he added that extra roll.

no…im pointing out the fact that people always second guess grady’s decision on this blog, especially you, yet you seem to overlook things that may have come into grady’s mind when making the decision to PH….you act as if you could do a better job, then again, you’d probably do a better job building the team, coaching the team, and probably owning the team..you seem to know so much, and you never seem to think you’re wrong….

hopefully tommorow we can win, and you’ll have nothing to whine about..

unfortunately, today we lost, so it’s blame grady day….heck, if nomar didnt have 2 hits today, he might have gotten some blame too…lucky for him, he dodged tonight as a potential blame game target :)

well for all of you Holton fans who hate Bombko get ready for worse….he is in no way shape or form a MLB pitcher and will make you Gravel for Hendy and Bombko he ****** when he was here before and is a farm pitcher for life if we are to this point then we have hit Rock Bottom!Rule 5 pitcher with nothing and for some reason other then nobody else wants him Depo abortion pick up….he is still in our system he might make 1 good game for the fact that they can’t hit pitches that slow and outta the zone…

This game as Alex said was lost on the offence…Nomar hit a solo homer and that was all we had…Very sad run production from an offence that should have put atleast 3 more runs across not to Mention the Horrible call on Martin to kill the rally….Baseball is a game of inches at times but we are foot long now in bad calls against us time for the umps to take some Lumps! I call for a strike against them!Replay Has to be incorperated in some way as the tech is here and allowed in some way in most sports.The umps need to be called out and held accountable for bad calls… we ALL Saw that Martin was safe beyond a reasonable doubt!For a game that relys so heavily on rally’s and instances this sport needs some sort of accountabilty towards the ump’s!I for 1 would support some sort or replay rule to hold them accountable.

The ump blew the call at 3B on Martin, and what’s worse is that he was just not in position–his line of sight was blocked by Martin’s body (why 2B umpires move in front when there is a man on first).

It’s actually amazing, as this is the third time when we have been hosed by bad calls on stolen bases recently). In Tampa, Martin threw out the runner at third (you could see Toney Abreu’s glove in between the runner’s feet and the bag), and the next night, the same umpire called out Pierre (I think) stealing 2B (he also nearly stole Loney’s Home Run).

I am torn, however, as to whether it was a good play by Martin where we just got unlucky, or a rookie (or sophmore) mistake of exuberance. If he does not go, we have first and second–with one out, and with Gonzo walks, it’s bases loaded, so it seems bad in retrospect. But if Nomar still hits that ground ball, it’s possibly a double play (definitely so if the infield is up), so maybe it did not matter.

But Linebrink was not watching him at all, he got a great jump, and it took a nearly perfect throw from Barrett to (almost) get him. If Barrett sails that throw into left field, if anyone throws a wild pitch, or Gonzo or Nomar hit a fly ball, or if Gonzo hits a fly ball, or if Gonzo, Nomar, or Loney get a base hit, the Dodgers win, and by vacating second base, he allows Matt Kemp (running) to steal second and avoid a double play (and a throw down is much less likely because a successful delayed double-steal wins it for the Dodgers).

I like the aggressiveness, but with first and second and one out, I think that the pitcher becomes a lot more dangerous and we have a better chance than we had, so maybe it was a bad move. But even if it’s a bad play, I can’t get too upset at Martin trying to be aggressive and make something happen–it seemes a calculated risk and not reckless, and playing with that kind of intensity can only be good.

Glad to see Houlton coming up. Don’t expect him to solve the 5th starter problem, but we need to see if he can perform acceptably at the major league level, since he seems to be the best available to us from AAA. Kuo clearly is not ready, and Hendrickson will apparently get another chance with Houlton getting his chances as the long reliever. I don’t expect that Hendrickson will do any better as a starter now than when he had the chance to do that earlier. If Hendrickson and Houlton don’t perform, then we probably need to go in the market to repair the problem that is essentially attributable to Schmidt’s bad signing outcome.

As for Tomko, not much to be said that hasn’t been said along. You can’t trust him pitching in a win/loss outcome situation; therefore, he really is not needed on this club. I hope that Colletti is mindful of that and is readying him as part of any trade package. Understandably, I’m not holding my breath for Colletti to see it that way with one of his favorites. How those Giant ties come into play, and that’s why I wish we had opted for someone with Dodger roots.

The Dodgers need to definitely DFA Tomko and the sooner the better. Tomko was not real great in his prime, but he has nothing now. His location is horrid. Each time he pitches the excuse is the same-“bad location”. The Dodgers should bring up Meloan. Look at his K’s per 9ip in the minors. He needs to be given an opportunity. As for trading for Garland or Buerhle, if the Dodgers can get one of them for a combo of the following players, it would be ok:
Delwyn Young

Blake Dewitt

James McDonald

Xavier Paul

Wilson Betemit

We cannot trade Abreau; Brox; Bills; Kemp or Loney

Dodgers could sign Buerhle to an extension considering the following will be off the payroll for 2008:

My understanding is that Kent’s contract will remain guaranteed for ’08 if he gets something like 550 at bats this season, something that is bound to happen unless management deliberately sits him down so that he won’t attain that number. Does naybody know for sure?

Another guy whose presence I now question is Saenz. He clearly is no longer performing as the main/clutch pinch hitter. With his very low average, we’re now losing scoring opportunities in critical situations. I think that both Saenz as well as Martinez should be traded or DFA’d from the team at this point.

let me join the absurd that is the trades that you guys think are possible. how about brett tomko for prince fielder or hong chi kuo for jake peavy. come on folks no one wants our left overs like delwyn young or brett tomko or wilson betemit or Ramon Martinez or the rest of the barely average to under average players that you guys are willing to trade in exchange for anything more than their left overs. If you want to stay pat, I agree but it you want to make a trade we will have to give up something of value to get anything of value. That means that you have to put some of the GOOD young players on the table. I am not saying all of them but at least one or two. Otherwise no trade.

Hope you see this cosmow. Why do you include Young in your otherwise good comments? His only not very good year was 2006 and he’s having a fine year at AAA now. He’s on the 40-man so the Dodgers put that much value on him.He is already 25 but must have more value than you say.

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